Neurobehavioral effects of repetitive prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on pathological aggression (B01)

• Subject Area: Biological Psychiatry ; Clinical Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 512007073

Using a simultaneous tDCS - fMRI approach, the project aims to enhance cognitive control by repeated prefrontal tDCS, investigating its effect on aggression. In addition to gauging tDCS responsivity, identifying the role of individual factors such as genetic profiles in aggression will be a particular focus of the project. To determine the therapeutic potential of tDCS, we will include psychiatric patients with substance use problems, a group of criminal, violent offenders, and healthy matched controls. The strong methodological focus of this project provides the basis for developing personalized stimulation protocols to reduce aggression in future funding periods.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 379: Neuropsychobiology of Aggression: A Transdiagnostic Approach in Mental Disorders
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Andreas Reif; Dr. Carmen Weidler